HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. In other words indoor and vehicular environmental thermal comfort and indoor air quality. Generally, for our discussion we will address indoor building environmental conditions. If buildings were sealed to the point of being air tight, we would suffer from various discomforts and illnesses. Ventilation contributes to the process of exchanging the air in a building. This is done to replace oxygen while removing moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria and venting carbon dioxide and other gases like radon. Ventilation also removes unpleasant smells, too much moisture and replaces it with outside air. Circulating air in the building prevents stagnation.

Natural or Forced Air Ventilation Systems in Buildings

In northern climes during the winter months heating is a priority. In the southwest during the summers, air conditioning and cooling is the primary motivation of the installation of this machinery. Most of the sheet metal workers in the US support HVAC systems, providing the ductwork for the transportation of the air throughout the system. Ventilation is accomplished by natural or forced systems. Forced systems use mechanical systems to force the air, like fans. Natural circulation depends on the natural thermal dynamic of air circulation. Either hot air rising or the dynamics of atmospheric circulation, like wind.

Furnace, Boiler & Heat Pump Heating

Heating traditionally has been accomplished through the burning of fossil fuels or wood. Fossil fuels are the most common like coal, oil or natural gas and propane. In warmer southern climes like the southwest most heating is natural gas or electric. Electric heating depends on resistance wiring like a big toaster, and heats using electricity. Heat pumps operate like an air conditioner but are reversible. Air is forced through a condenser by fans removing heat and then compressing the coolant from gas to liquid. It is sent to the evaporator where the liquid expands to a gas absorbing heat and cooling the recirculating air. This is the same as an air conditioner. The evaporator is inside the building while the condenser is the radiator type construct on the outside. But in a heat pump the gas flow is reversed making the evaporator into the condenser and broadcasting the warmed air inside.

Swamp Cooler VS Air Conditioner

A lot of electrical power is required for these processes. That is why in the home, environmental control equipment is the largest power drain in the home. This is followed by electrical water heaters and electrical clothes driers, which depend on resistance heating. Where available there are other systems. One of the oldest is evaporative coolers that depend up on the evaporation of water to cool the system. These work well in hot dry climates, but don’t do so well in humid air. With growth comes watering of lawns and trees which aspirate water vapor, rising the humidity levels in an urban area, in turn lowering the efficiency of evaporative cooling systems. The evaporative or ‘swamp’ coolers both humidify the indoor air but require relatively high air mass movement, ventilated to the outside. Ducts are larger, and in the old days window where open to accommodate the air exchange rate need for efficiency. Trump Towers in Chicago uses the water from the Chicago River, by piping cool river water through a heat exchanger cooling the air. More expensive to install but result in 30-40% lower HVAC power consumption.

Central Air Conditioning & Heating Services & More in Summerlin, North LV, Henderson, Enterprise, Paradise, Sunrise Manor, Spring Valley, Aliante, Anthem, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Green Valley Ranch, Inspirada, Mountain’s Edge, Peccole Ranch, Providence, Rhodes Ranch, Seven Hills, Silverado Ranch, The Lakes, Tuscany Village & Las Vegas Nevada

This is a short introduction to HVAC, and was limited to residential systems. Commercial units operate on the same principles, sometime a combination of systems, just on a broader larger scale. Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning can handle all your residential and commercial heating and cooling needs. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!